MPGA

Match Play Rules

Tee Times

Matches will start at the time scheduled by the home team. The host captain is responsible for arranging tee times for each date. The host Captain should recommend to the host course to charge the patron or the lowest available green fee for visiting players. The respective captains should contact each other at a least one week prior to the match. The visiting team is required to timely notify the opposing captain and host course of no shows; failure to do so could result in your men's club being held responsible for no-show green fees. Let's try to be understanding to each club situation as to available tee times at their respective club.

Line-Ups

Team captains or their designate will meet at the starter’s station 10 minutes prior to the first tee time and exchange line-ups and order of play. Each team captain or designate should have a current roster of his club members available to show that team members are a member of the club they are representing. If a question of a player’s eligibility arises on the day of the match, the captain must provide proof by the end of the day or any team points won on their behalf will be stripped. A scoring sheet should be maintained by both captains and point totals compared as results come in.

Line-Up Exceptions

If a team member does not show , the captain may substitute another player not listed on the line-up sheet, or the remaining team partner must play the match alone until the absent member or substitute appears, No player listed on the line-up sheet can be realigned once the sheets have been exchanged (unless mutually agreed to by the captains). Once a substitute has begun play, the absent player cannot replace his substitute, but may take a spot if there is another missing player. It is the responsibility of the team captain to ensure that line-up changes are within these guidelines, and make timely claims known to any member of the opposite team, regarding any applicable rule violation. Illegal substitutions result in a loss of 3 points.

Interrupted Play

In the event play must be suspended because of severe weather or unplayable conditions, players will mark the exact spot where their ball rested when play was suspended and return to the clubhouse. If conditions permit and players resume play, the match will continue to completion. Maximum effort should be made to complete the match. The following should be used as a guide:

  1. Complete the match as quickly as weather permits.
  2. If it is impossible to complete the match and all teams have completed more than nine holes, the match shall revert to the nine hole scores and award points (two points to winning team, one point to losing team) accordingly.
  3. Reschedule all or part of the unfinished matches to bring them to a conclusion before the start of the next scheduled match.
Slow Play

Match Play Pace of Play Policy

When a group is out of position and playing over the Raguzzi pace of play guidelines, the MPGA will encourage the group to get back into position or under the Raguzzi time allowances. If the group does not improve their pace of play during the next hole, they will be officially warned that all members of the group will be on the clock. Any time of over 40 seconds to play a shot by either member of the two-man team will be a breach.

1st breach: the player and his teammate will be warned that they had an unacceptable timing. 2nd breach: the 2-man team will lose the hole the breach occurred on. 3rd breach: the 2-man team will lose all remaining holes of the match and must discontinue play.

Definition: A group is out of position when they are not ready to play their next shot when the fairway or green is clear in front of them.

Reporting Results

Each team captain is responsible to agree with the opposing team's captain on the final match score. As soon as possible after the match, the home captain should post the score on the MPGA website here: https://mpga.net/match-play/results.

If for some reason you cannot reach the website to post your results, text the results to 612-747-6384.

Special Notes
  1. To make the competition run smoothly and without incident, it is imperative that the team captain work together with the member club and the club's Pro or Manager to ensure that the event dates as scheduled do not conflict with other club events, etc. Please make an attempt to be reasonable, flexible, and accommodating when conflicts arise.
  2. It is recommended the team captains contact one another at least a week prior to the match. "No shows" cause a host course considerable revenue loss. Each competing club will be responsible for their lost revenues to the host course for such occurrences. Be sure to clarify tee times (some courses start rounds on both the front and back nines simultaneously).
  3. The Rules of Golf as approved by the USGA govern all play, unless otherwise amended on a local level.
  4. Players should adhere to the dress code of the host club if one is stated, but at a minimum the players are expected to wear a shirt (no tank tops), slacks or golf shorts, shoes and socks.
  5. Be aware of Rule 23.6: You and your partner may play in the order your side considers best. This means that when it is your turn to play, either you or your partner may play next.

Exception – Continuing Play of Hole After Stroke Conceded in Match Play:

  • You must not continue play of a hole after your next stroke has been conceded if this would help your partner.
  • If you do so, your score for the hole stands without penalty, but your partner’s score for the hole cannot count for your side.
Eligibility

Players must be an amateur (male or female), a member of the MPGA member club they are representing and have a Handicap Index for the current season. Note: All players, male or female, must play from the same tees. If a player is a member of multiple MPGA member clubs, that player can compete for only one club in the 12/16 man competition during the season. We strongly advise only representing one match play team if your club has multiple teams. Captains or club designate must have access to E-mail during the season.

Eligibility Rule for Member Clubs with 2 Match Play Teams

This Rule pertains to member clubs with 2 teams participating at multiple levels of MPGA Match Play. The levels of Match Play teams from high to low are: 16A, 16B, 12A, 12B.

Rule: Any player who would be considered in the top players of a member club is ineligible to play on a lower level team for the member club. Any players participating on a member club’s higher level MPGA Match Play team are ineligible to play on a lower level Match Play team for the member club. It is the responsibility of the member club Captains to abide by this rule. The MPGA Match Play Committee reserves the right to review and enforce penalties for violating this rule. Penalties may include loss of points for a match played with an ineligible player and/or match forfeiture.

College Player Eligibility

College and High School players must contact their coach and/or the school compliance officer, explain their situation, and get their official approval to be eligible to play as part of a member club team that competes in MPGA Match Play Competition. The MPGA is not responsible for a player losing their eligibility to play collegiate or high school golf.

Dates of Competition

Matches are to be played on scheduled date, planned for Sundays, unless both captains agree to a change due to a club conflict. The MPGA class chairman must be notified of any change before the match is to take place.

Forfeitures

If a team forfeits a match they will receive zero points and the opponent will receive 2/3 of the total points available. Forfeitures are not looked upon favorably and will be examined closely and potentially used to determine future participation in MPGA Match Play seasons.

Playoff Tie Break Procedure

If two teams are tied at the end of the home and away match or after the end of a playoff match, there will be a Sudden Death playoff. The captains of both teams shall select 2 team members for a sudden death playoff starting on a hole designated by the course manager or representative. Every effort must be made to complete this playoff on the day of the match.

Format

Each team consists of 12 or 16 players and each team will play 6 or 8 matches. Host Clubs, opponents and dates of matches are on the schedules available under "Schedule and Results".

The competition is four ball match play, in which team members play their better ball against the opponent’s better ball. No handicap is involved. A point is awarded for winning each nine and a point for winning the 18 hole round for a total of 3 points per match. A tie for any given nine or the 18 hole match is halved: each team gets a half point.

The team with the most points earns 1 point for a team Win. Ties earn 1/2 point for each team. The top team(s) in the regular season standings of each group will qualify for the playoffs.

Season Tie Breakers

If two teams are tied:

  1. Head to head record
  2. Head to head points
  3. Total points for all matches
  4. Won-Loss record vs the other two teams in the group
  5. Total points vs the other two teams in the group
  6. Coin toss

If three teams are tied:

  1. Head to head record between the three teams (throw out the record vs the fourth team in the group)
  2. Head to head points between the three teams (throw out the points vs the fourth team in the group)
  3. Total points for all matches
  4. Won-Loss record vs the fourth team in the group
  5. Total points vs the fourth team in the group
  6. Road record between the three tied teams
  7. Road total points between the three tied teams
  8. Coin toss